Il capolavoro di Marguerite Yourcenar unisce al cesello perfetto della ricostruzione storica il coraggio di presentare a tutto tondo un grand'uomo, l'altezza del suo pensiero, la disponibilità intellettuale, le intuizioni profetiche, donandoci non già un saggio erudito, ma un libro dei giorni nostri, e dei giorni a venire. Perché, come ha scritto la Yourcenar, «non siamo i soli a guardare in faccia un avvenire inesorabile». I Taccuini di appunti dell'autrice (annotazioni di studio, lampi di autobiografia, ricordi, vicissitudini della scrittura) perfezionano la conoscenza di un'opera che fu pensata, composta, smarrita, corretta per quasi un trentennio. La nota della traduttrice, Lidia Storoni Mazzolani, ci regala la storia di un'amicizia nata lavorando alla versione italiana. Con la cronologia della vita e delle opere e la bibliografia essenziale.

Memorie di Adriano

New York Times Bestseller ""There is no writer quite like Dolly Alderton working today and very soon the world will know it.” —Lisa Taddeo, author of #1 New York Times bestseller Three Women “Dolly Alderton has always been a sparkling Roman candle of talent. She is funny, smart, and explosively engaged in the wonders and weirdness of the world. But what makes this memoir more than mere entertainment is the mature and sophisticated evolution that Alderton describes in these pages. It’s a beautifully told journey and a thoughtful, important book. I loved it.” —Elizabeth Gilbert, New York Times bestselling author of Eat, Pray, Love and City of Girls The wildly funny, occasionally heartbreaking internationally bestselling memoir about growing up, growing older, and learning to navigate friendships, jobs, loss, and love along the ride When it comes to the trials and triumphs of becoming an adult, journalist and former Sunday Times columnist Dolly Alderton has seen and tried it all. In her memoir, she vividly recounts falling in love, finding a job, getting drunk, getting dumped, realizing that Ivan from the corner shop might just be the only reliable man in her life, and that absolutely no one can ever compare to her best girlfriends. Everything I Know About Love is about bad dates, good friends and—above all else— realizing that you are enough. Glittering with wit and insight, heart and humor, Dolly Alderton’s unforgettable debut weaves together personal stories, satirical observations, a series of lists, recipes, and other vignettes that will strike a chord of recognition with women of every age—making you want to pick up the phone and tell your best friends all about it. Like Bridget Jones’ Diary but all true, Everything I Know About Love is about the struggles of early adulthood in all its terrifying and hopeful uncertainty.

Everything I Know About Love

"Questo libro raccoglie alcune cose che ho imparato in tanti anni di professione, di incontri, di esperienze, di libri letti e scritti, di speranze e delusioni..." Così Piero Angela riassume e spiega la sua ultima fatica, un testo scritto di getto e nato dall'urgenza del momento, e dalle enormi sfide che ci attendono. Un lascito morale, dopo una lunghissima carriera al servizio dell'informazione e della formazione di generazioni di italiani. "Com'è possibile" si chiede in queste pagine "che un paese come l'Italia, che ha marcato profondamente per secoli il cammino della civiltà, oggi sia così in difficoltà, e abbia perso le sue luci?" La risposta è in dieci semplici capitoli, dieci aree critiche su cui occorre agire. Per oltre cinquant'anni Piero Angela si è occupato a tempo pieno di scienza, tecnologia, ambiente, informazione, energia, televisione, comportamenti, e ha scritto Dieci cose che ho imparato per condividere con i lettori alcune proposte, frutto della sua lunga esperienza sul campo. Con questo libro, a cui ha lavorato fino all'ultimo, colui che è stato per tutti il volto rassicurante della scienza ha voluto dirci come usarla per migliorare le cose. Per rilanciare l'Italia con una nuova visione.

Dieci cose che ho imparato

La biografia dell'esorcista più famoso al mondo, padre Gabriele Amorth: trent'anni di battaglie dedicate a combattere il diavolo. Attraverso una serie di conversazioni con padre Gabriele Amorth, trascritte con estrema fedeltà di pensiero e di linguaggio, Elisabetta Fezzi ci restituisce in questo libro un vero e proprio testamento spirituale dell'esorcista più famoso al mondo. Apprendiamo così particolari curiosi della sua vita, della sua vocazione e della sua lunga attività esorcistica. Gabriele Amorth (1925-2016) è stato il più importante esorcista italiano e un grande mariologo. Laureatosi in giurisprudenza, nel 1954 ricevette l’ordinazione. Nel 1985 venne nominato esorcista della diocesi di Roma e nel 1990 fondò l’Associazione internazionale degli esorcisti, di cui è stato presidente fino al 2000. Moltissimi i libri da lui pubblicati e tradotti all’estero, tra i quali ricordiamo Più forti del male (2012), Il vangelo di Maria (2012), Vade retro Satana! (2013), Saremo giudicati dall’Amore (2015) e Il mio rosario (2016). Elisabetta Fezzi (1961) è pubblicista dal 1988. Enologa e imprenditrice, ha pubblicato libri di enogastronomia. Ha conosciuto padre Amorth per un’intervista a cui è seguita una profonda amicizia.

Padre Amorth. La mia battaglia con Dio contro Satana

Il mondo di oggi non sarebbe lo stesso senza Cleopatra, una donna di potere, intelligente e abile che appartiene all'immaginario collettivo universale, ma la cui figura storica è ancora per molti aspetti avvolta nel mistero e non priva di risvolti enigmatici.Alberto Angela ha deciso di ricostruire le vicende della regina che in un certo senso ha conquistato Roma, rintracciando fonti storiche e accompagnandoci per mano, con il suo stile inimitabile, tra le caotiche strade della capitale del mondo antico, l'esotico porto di Alessandria d'Egitto e i sanguinosi campi di battaglia, alla scoperta di persone, storie, usi e costumi.Solo un autore come lui Ã¨ in grado di farci rivivere in prima persona il ventennio che ha segnato un cambio epocale nella storia romana, dall'uccisione di Giulio Cesare, che decreta la fine della Repubblica, alla morte di Antonio e Cleopatra (la cui tomba non Ã¨ ancora stata ritrovata) fino alla nascita dell'Impero con Augusto al potere. Un viaggio nel tempo in bilico tra Occidente e Oriente, per riscoprire con uno sguardo nuovo un periodo storico affascinante e convulso, ricco di intrighi e guerre che hanno segnato il nostro presente e contribuito a rendere il mondo il luogo che oggi tutti noi conosciamo.

Cleopatra

«Perché l'ha fatto?» Ce lo chiediamo spesso davanti a delitti particolarmente feroci, specie quando sono immotivati e dunque ci appaiono ancora più incomprensibili. L'istinto ci porta a credere che il male sia frutto della follia o di un raptus omicida, perché questo pensiero ci tranquillizza, ci allontana da un timore molto più profondo. E cioè che esistono persone malvagie. Invece, non tutto si può attribuire a una mente malata, a patologie della psiche o a una brusca perdita dell'autocontrollo. Anzi, ogni azione violenta, anche quella che sembra più improvvisa, è sempre la conseguenza di ciò che è andato costruendosi nel tempo. Ce lo dimostra Stefano Nazzi in questa raccolta di storie inquietanti. Con una prosa serrata e coinvolgente, ci racconta le vicende di dieci persone che hanno fatto il male e ben lo rappresentano: uomini e donne di età diverse, che in Italia si sono resi colpevoli di delitti efferati, spesso con moventi inesistenti. Dai più noti, come Nicola Sapone delle Bestie di Satana o Luigi Chiatti, il Mostro di Foligno, a nomi meno conosciuti, come il serial killer Gianfranco Stevanin, il «Cherubino nero» Roberto Succo o, ancora, le tre ragazze che a Chiavenna uccisero senza motivo una suora. Nazzi ci racconta com'erano e come sono diventati dei «mostri», spesso senza che nessuno intorno a loro sospettasse quello che stava accadendo. E ci racconta anche ciò che è successo dopo: qualcuno ha continuato a uccidere, altri hanno voluto scomparire; c'è chi ancora non si è reso pienamente conto del dolore che ha provocato e chi continua a proclamarsi innocente. Nessuno può sapere da dove nasca il male, o perché questi assassini abbiano fatto ciò che hanno fatto. Quel che è certo, è che il male è come un sasso lanciato in uno stagno: si allarga in cerchi concentrici, causando dolore alla vittima e a tutti quelli attorno a lei. Ma, a differenza di quelli nell'acqua, «i cerchi del male non spariscono dopo pochi secondi. Durano a lungo, a volte per sempre».

Il volto del male

Greg era un brillante attivista politico all’università di Melbourne ma dopo la separazione dalla moglie e dalla sua bambina si trasforma in uno dei “most wanted men” australiani. Condannato a 19 anni di carcere per una lunga serie misfatti, scappa dal carcere di massima sicurezza di Pentridge e si rifugia a Bombay dove trova la sua seconda occasione. Diventa uno Shantaram, un “uomo della pace di Dio”, allestisce un ospedale per gli indigenti, recita nei film di Bollywood… Un romanzo che tocca la mente e il cuore, che appassiona e fa pensare.

Shantaram

È il tardo pomeriggio del 4 gennaio 2021, quando nella tranquilla città di Bolzano si perdono le tracce di Peter Neumair e Laura Perselli. A denunciarne la scomparsa, il giorno dopo, è il figlio Benno. Da quel momento il trentenne, all'apparenza gentile e collaborativo, mette in atto un'impressionante serie di depistaggi, mentendo e manipolando. Costruisce nei giorni una sequenza di bugie, raccontate ai giornalisti così come ai suoi parenti. Bugie raccolte e smascherate anche con questa inchiesta, confluita nel fascicolo di indagine degli inquirenti. Come inviato della trasmissione Quarto Grado, Matteo Macuglia si troverà, a partire da quei primi giorni di gennaio, a seguire le tracce dei protagonisti, incontrando più volte Benno e l'altra figlia dei coniugi Neumair, Madé, e ad assistere alle ricerche dei corpi prima e al processo dopo. Una storia controversa come controverso sarà il dibattimento tra difesa e pubblici ministeri. Di questa violenta vicenda, rimangono le macerie di quanto accaduto nell'appartamento al secondo piano di via Castel Roncolo; un ergastolo che cancella ogni futuro possibile per colui che si è macchiato del più atroce dei delitti; il futuro di una figlia che prova a rifarsi una vita dopo aver perso ciò che aveva di più caro al mondo; due esistenze spazzate via, impossibili da riparare. E resta questo racconto, a ricordarci quanto il male possa annidarsi tra le pieghe delle nostre relazioni più care, e rimanere in attesa di colpire per anni, cancellando ogni cosa in un ultimo, estremo tentativo di sopraffazione.

Il male dentro

Questo libro è la prima tappa di un pellegrinaggio di pace. Un pellegrinaggio compiuto da un uomo che, nel corso della sua vita, è stato un cronista coinvolto in prima persona nella realtà che descriveva; un giornalista capace d'individuare per istinto i segni che un determinato avvenimento lascia sul territorio sconfinato della Storia; un narratore con una voce unica, spesso fuori del coro, sempre autentica e piena di comprensione. Un uomo che, prima dell'11 settembre 2001, ha sempre avuto una profonda consapevolezza dell'abisso culturale, ideologico, sociale aperto (e spesso ignorato) tra l'Occidente in cui è nato e l'Oriente in cui ha vissuto per trent'anni. Un uomo che, dopo l'11 settembre 2001, ha capito di non poter più tacere di fronte alla barbarie, all'intolleranza, all'ipocrisia, al conformismo, all'indifferenza. Tiziano Terzani, con queste «lettere» da Kabul, Peshawar, Quetta, ma anche da Orsigna, Firenze, Delhi e dal suo «rifugio» sull'Himalaya, assolve un dovere verso il futuro di tutti noi, comincia un pellegrinaggio che tutti noi dovremmo compiere. Perché non basta comprendere «il dramma del mondo musulmano nel suo confronto con la modernità, il ruolo dell'Islam come ideologia anti-globalizzazione, la necessità da parte dell'Occidente di evitare una guerra di religione»; bisogna soprattutto capire, convincersi, credere che l'unica via d'uscita possibile dall'odio, dalla discriminazione, dal dolore è la non-violenza. E con disarmante, provocatoria, audacissima semplicità ci dice: «Il mondo è cambiato. Dobbiamo cambiare noi. Fermiamoci, riflettiamo, prendiamo coscienza, facciamo ognuno qualcosa. Nessun altro può farlo per noi».

Lettere contro la guerra

"Il mio libro più autobiografico. La storia di Eve è la mia storia." Sophie Kinsella Eve, una famosa scrittrice, un giorno si sveglia in un letto di ospedale senza ricordare come ci sia finita. Il marito, sempre presente, le spiega che è stata sottoposta a un intervento chirurgico per rimuovere un grosso tumore al cervello. Mentre impara nuovamente a camminare, parlare e scrivere, Eve deve fare i conti con la sua diagnosi e affrontare la malattia trovando anche il modo di spiegare quanto le sta accadendo ai suoi amati figli. Inizia a rendersi conto di cosa per lei sia più importante: le lunghe camminate mano nella mano con il marito, le serate passate a fare giochi da tavolo in famiglia e quel vestito scintillante in vetrina che non rinuncerà mai a comprare. Cosa si prova è composto da brevi capitoli, ognuno dei quali è un tentativo di rispondere al tipo di domande impossibili che tutti coloro che navigano nel labirinto del dolore conoscono bene. Questo libro coraggioso e toccante, pieno di humour e calore, è una gemma preziosa sul valore della vita che spezzerà il cuore del lettore e lo ricomporrà al tempo stesso. Nelle sue pagine riverbera la personalità luminosa di una grande autrice che si trova ad affrontare una diagnosi terribile e impara a vivere e amare in modo nuovo...

Cosa si prova

‘Enlightening, moving’ SIR IAN MCKELLENFrom the acclaimed and bestselling biographer Jonathan Bate, a luminous new exploration of Shakespeare and how his themes can untangle comedy and tragedy, learning and loving in our modern lives. ‘The web of our life is of a mingled yarn, good and ill together.’ How does one survive the death of a loved one, the mess of war, the experience of being schooled, of falling in love, of growing old, of losing your mind? Shakespeare’s world is never too far different from our own ‘permeated with the same tragedies, the same existential questions and domestic worries. In this extraordinary book, Jonathan Bate brings then and now together. He investigates moments of his own life – losses and challenges – and asks whether, if you persevere with Shakespeare, he can offer a word of wisdom or a human insight for any time or any crisis. Along the way we meet actors such as Judi Dench and Simon Callow, and writers such as Dr Johnson, John Keats, Virginia Woolf and Sylvia Plath, who turned to Shakespeare in their own dark times. This is a personal story about loss, the black dog of depression, unexpected journeys and the very human things that echo through time, resonating with us all at one point or another.

Mad about Shakespeare

Now a major motion picture starring Jim Parsons! A “heartbreaking but surprisingly hilarious memoir” (People) about the lessons, love, and laughter of the fourteen years a respected TV columnist shared with his late husband before he succumbed to cancer. For over a decade, TV fans have counted upon Michael Ausiello’s insider knowledge to get the scoop on their favorite shows and stars. From his time at Soaps In Depth and Entertainment Tonight to his influential stints at TV Guide and Entertainment Weekly to his current role as cofounder of the wildly popular website TVLine, Michael has established himself as the go-to expert when it comes to our most popular form of entertainment. What many of his fans don’t know, however, is that while his professional life was in full swing, Michael had to endure the greatest of personal tragedies: his longtime boyfriend, Kit Cowan, was diagnosed with a rare and very aggressive form of neuroendocrine cancer. Over the course of eleven months, Kit and Michael did their best to combat the deadly disease, but Kit succumbed to his illness in 2015. In this heartbreaking and darkly hilarious memoir, Michael tells the story of his harrowing and challenging last year with Kit while revisiting the thirteen years that preceded it, and how the undeniably powerful bond between him and Kit carried them through all manner of difficulties—always with laughter front and center in their relationship. “Engrossing, poignant, tragic, and hilarious” (Jenny Lawson, #1 New York Times bestselling author), Spoiler Alert: The Hero Dies is “a story about love and loss, joy and heartbreak. And in the midst of personal turmoil, we learn that bravery comes in many forms” (The Washington Post).

Spoiler Alert: The Hero Dies

* #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER * #1 INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER * MORE THAN 3 MILLION COPIES SOLD! A heartbreaking and hilarious memoir by iCarly and Sam & Cat star Jennette McCurdy about her struggles as a former child actor—including eating disorders, addiction, and a complicated relationship with her overbearing mother—and how she retook control of her life. Jennette McCurdy was six years old when she had her first acting audition. Her mother’s dream was for her only daughter to become a star, and Jennette would do anything to make her mother happy. So she went along with what Mom called “calorie restriction,” eating little and weighing herself five times a day. She endured extensive at-home makeovers while Mom chided, “Your eyelashes are invisible, okay? You think Dakota Fanning doesn’t tint hers?” She was even showered by Mom until age sixteen while sharing her diaries, email, and all her income. In I’m Glad My Mom Died, Jennette recounts all this in unflinching detail—just as she chronicles what happens when the dream finally comes true. Cast in a new Nickelodeon series called iCarly, she is thrust into fame. Though Mom is ecstatic, emailing fan club moderators and getting on a first-name basis with the paparazzi (“Hi Gale!”), Jennette is riddled with anxiety, shame, and self-loathing, which manifest into eating disorders, addiction, and a series of unhealthy relationships. These issues only get worse when, soon after taking the lead in the iCarly spinoff Sam & Cat alongside Ariana Grande, her mother dies of cancer. Finally, after discovering therapy and quitting acting, Jennette embarks on recovery and decides for the first time in her life what she really wants. Told with refreshing candor and dark humor, I’m Glad My Mom Died is an inspiring story of resilience, independence, and the joy of shampooing your own hair.

I'm Glad My Mom Died

La sacerdotessa del rock ripercorre i sentieri che dall'infanzia a Chicago la portano a New York dove incontra Robert Mapplethorpe, fotografo estremo che con lei intreccia un cammino di arte, di devozione e di iniziazione. Insieme scoprono che rock, politica e sesso sono gli ingredienti essenziali della rivoluzione a venire. Il vero collante tra Patti e Robert è l'amicizia. Un'amicizia rara, pura, preziosa. Un patto esplicito di reciproco sostegno, fondato sulla condivisione di sogni, di visioni, di idee. Di arte. La confessione di una delle più grandi protagoniste del rock americano, di un'originale poetessa, di una musa, di una donna che ha saputo vivere ai margini delle convenzioni.

Just kids

In questo libro unico nel suo genere, che offre riflessioni storiche, personali e spirituali - alcune mai condivise prima d'ora -, Sua Santità il Dalai Lama racconta la storia completa della sua lotta con la Cina per salvare il Tibet e il suo popolo, da quasi settantacinque anni. Sua Santità il Dalai Lama ha dovuto combattere contro le autorità cinesi per quasi tutta la vita. Aveva solo 16 anni quando la Cina ha invaso il Tibet, nel 1950, appena 19 quando incontrò per la prima volta il Presidente Mao e 25 quando fu costretto a fuggire in esilio in India. Nei sette decenni trascorsi da allora, ha affrontato i leader comunisti cinesi – Mao, Deng Xiaoping, Jiang Zemin e Hu Jintao – lottando per la libertà del Tibet e cercando di preservarne la cultura, la lingua, la religione e la storia, nonostante un governo che lo ha emarginato e demonizzato. Ora, a quasi 75 anni dall'invasione del Tibet, Sua Santità il Dalai Lama ricorda al mondo l'irrisolta lotta per la libertà del Tibet e le avversità che i tibetani continua ad affrontare. Condivide le sue riflessioni sulla situazione geopolitica della regione e racconta come è riuscito a preservare la propria umanità nonostante le profonde perdite subite e le minacce che tuttora gravano sul popolo tibetano. Questo libro ripercorre lo straordinario viaggio del Dalai Lama, dalla perdita della propria casa a causa di un invasore ostile alla difficile costruzione di una vita in esilio, nel tentativo di affrontare la crisi esistenziale di una nazione, del suo popolo, della sua cultura e della sua religione, e immaginare una via da percorrere in futuro. Una voce per chi non ha voce è la potente testimonianza di una figura di rilievo mondiale, che condivide sia le sue sofferenze sia la sua incrollabile speranza che il suo popolo possa riconquistare la dignità e la libertà. "Una voce per chi non ha voce è un'opera importante per me e per il mio popolo. Nonostante tutte le sofferenze e le devastazioni, crediamo ancora fermamente nella possibilità di una risoluzione pacifica della nostra lotta per la libertà e la dignità. Attingendo alle lezioni apprese nei miei decenni di rapporti con Pechino, questo libro vuole anche offrire alcune riflessioni su quella che potrebbe essere la strada da seguire. Nel mio ruolo di Dalai Lama, non c'è questione più importante di quella di cui parlo in queste pagine."_DALAI LAMA

Una voce per chi non ha voce

Il corpo in cui sono nata è una sorta di memoir in cui Guadalupe Nettel, fortunata autrice messicana de La figlia unica,  ripercorre la propria infanzia e adolescenza tra Messico e Francia in seno a una famiglia progressista che, suo malgrado, si trova a fare i conti con gli anni ‘70 e la fine dell’utopia. La protagonista si confronta con la sua infanzia segnata da un neo bianco sulla cornea che l’ha costretta a portare per anni un grosso cerotto sull’occhio che la porta a sviluppare fin da piccolissima un profondo senso di estraneità nei confronti del mondo che la circonda.

Il corpo in cui sono nata

Cosa si cela dietro ai grandi complotti? Uno dei più celebri divulgatori scientifici italiani ci aiuta capire cosa c'è di vero dietro alle storie più incredibili. Dall’omicidio JFK alle scie chimiche, dalla sostituzione di Paul McCartney con un sosia al proliferare di teorie sull’11 settembre: nel mondo attuale, in cui i dati delle persone circolano via internet e casi come quello di Wikileaks sembrano confermare tutta una serie di oscuri disegni, comprendere come funziona la mentalità complottista è a dir poco indispensabile... Massimo Polidoro (1969) è uno scrittore e divulgatore scientifico, storico collaboratore di Piero Angela, attualmente segretario nazionale del CICAP. Fra le sue molte pubblicazioni, si possono citare “Eravamo solo bambini” (2010), “Il passato è una bestia feroce” (2015) e “Il mondo sottosopra” (2019).

Rivelazioni. Il libro dei segreti e dei complotti

Il mostro di Firenze non è un uomo che uccide per motivi passionali, non è un assassino a pagamento e non è un killer di mafia o un terrorista. E' un serial killer che ha operato seguendo percorsi psicologici e psicopatologici complessi e difficili da decifrare. Questo intenso lavoro dell'avvocato e criminologa Chiara Penna studia i delitti del Mostro di Firenze analizzando i fatti e mettendo in risalto la totale assenza di riscontri oggettivi ai risultati dell’attività d’indagine svolta. Allo scopo di fornire una trattazione completa, si analizzano la struttura e gli elementi caratterizzanti le condotte criminose del killer e le dinamiche degli eventi, soffermandosi sia sulla tipologia delle vittime che sulla scena dei delitti. Compito del profiler è quello di trovare tale significato. Compito degli inquirenti sarebbe stato quello di creare e trovare una verità opponibile a tutti e in grado di sopportare la verifica processuale attraverso le evidenze probatorie che andavano via via sommandosi e sviluppandosi. Ma questo non è mai avvenuto. Ed è proprio da qui che prende corpo la novità proposta da Chiara Penna rispetto a un argomento che è stato ampiamente trattato sulla carta stampata e in tv: l’abilità di narratrice si coniuga perfettamente con l’esperienza e l’acume dell’avvocato penalista. Attraverso una meticolosa analisi degli aspetti processuali della vicenda, una nuova e più profonda verità emerge dalle pagine di questo libro.

Libri da premio

La vera storia del Mostro di Firenze

"Being a refugee is not a choice. Our choice is to die at home or risk death trying to escape." - Yusra Mardini Yusra Mardini fled her native Syria to the Turkish coast in 2015 and boarded a small dinghy full of refugees bound for Greece. When the small and overcrowded boat's engine cut out, it began to sink. Yusra, her sister and two others took to the water, pushing the boat for three and a half hours in open water until they eventually landed on Lesbos, saving the lives of the passengers aboard. Butterfly is the story of that remarkable woman, whose journey started in a war-torn suburb of Damascus and took her through Europe to Berlin and from there to the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. Yusra Mardini is an athlete, one of People magazine’s twenty-five women changing the world, a UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador and one of Time Magazine’s thirty most influential teens of 2016.

Butterfly

David Sedaris's remarkable ability to uncover the hilarious absurdity teeming just below the surface of everyday life is surpassed only by his ability to make his stories even more hilarious when he reads them aloud. This is the complete recording of Meet David Sedaris Series Five, for Radio 4, and he reads essays from several of his books as well as many brand new diary pieces and extras. The full listing is: Episode 1 The Understudy; Big Boy Episode 2 Stepping Out; The Vigilant Rabbit Episode 3 Leviathan Episode 4 Little Guy, The Ones That Got Away, Now Hiring Friendly People Episode 5 Calypso; Follow Me Episode 6 Loggerheads

Radio 4 series

Meet David Sedaris: Series Five

David Sedaris's remarkable ability to uncover the hilarious absurdity teeming just below the surface of everyday life is surpassed only by his ability to make his stories even more hilarious when he reads them aloud. This is the complete recording of his Radio 4 show Meet David Sedaris Series Four, and he reads essays from several of his books as well as many brand new diary pieces and extras. The full listing is: Episode 1 'The Happy Place' from Let's Explore Diabetes With Owls 'The Shadow of Your Smile' Episode 2 'Repeat After Me' from Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim diary extracts Episode 3 '#2 To Go' from Let's Explore Diabetes With Owls 'Innocence Abroad' Episode 4 'Company Man' diary extracts Episode 5 'Understanding Understanding Owls' from Let's Explore Diabetes With Owls 'English Lesson' Episode 6 'The Sea Section' 'Dog Days' from Let's Explore Diabetes With Owls

Meet David Sedaris: Series Four

'From beak to tail feather and from flipper to fin, this is a book that will long be known, read and savoured.' James W. Muller, Chairman of the Board of Academic Advisers of the International Churchill Society Winston Churchill was known for his great love for and admiration of animals. In fact, one of Churchill's key characteristics was his fascination with the animal kingdom - creatures of all sorts were a crucial element in his existence. He was amused, intrigued and enchanted by, sometimes even besotted with a vast menagerie, from his pet budgerigar, dogs, cats, fish, butterflies, to his own lion, leopard and white kangaroos kept at London Zoo, and even more unusual species. Dwelling amid flora and fauna was Churchill's ideal form of existence - 'The world would be better off if it were inhabited only by animals' - and he signed his letters home as a boy 'The Pussy Cat'. In this fascinating book, Dr Piers Brendon looks deeper into Churchill's love of the animal kingdom, and at how animals played such a large part in his everyday life. We encounter the paradox of the animal-loving-hunter: he hunts foxes yet keeps them as pets, he likes fishing but loves fish; along with the man who used analogies to animals time and time again in his speeches and writings. The picture that emerges shows another side to the great man, showcasing his wit, wisdom and wayward genius from a different perspective and shedding new and fascinating light on the man voted The Greatest Briton.

Churchill's Bestiary

In a career that spanned six decades, Eric Rohmer (1920-2010) earned a reputation as one of France’s most incisive, eloquent, and free-spirited film directors. A leading light of the French New Wave, he crafted films of immense beauty and poetry: throughout his career, his work demonstrated a consistency of style and theme, yet retained a freshness and youthful vigour. His first full-length film, The Sign of Leo, was released in 1959, the same year that Jean-Luc Godard and François Truffaut had their filmmaking débuts. Soon after, Rohmer began a project that was to take over ten years to complete - his celebrated series of films, Six Moral Tales, outstanding among which are My Night at Maud’s (1969) and Claire’s Knee (1970). After a brief foray into historical drama, Rohmer began another series of films, Comedies and Proverbs, which occupied him for much of the 1980s. Within this series, Pauline at the Beach (1983) and The Green Ray (1986) took a lighthearted look at the French middle class, broaching subjects such as infidelity and promiscuity in the search for everlasting love. The Comedies and Proverbs were followed in the 1990s by Tales of the Four Seasons, each of the four films dealing with emotional isolation, as the central character tries to cope with a recent crisis. The director’s final three films - The Lady and the Duke (2001), Triple Agent (2004), and The Romance of Astrée and Céladon (2007) - show a surprising diversity in technique, although each is fundamentally concerned with the recurring Rohmeresque themes of love and fidelity. Eric Rohmer’s films, modest as they are, are certain to outlive many of today’s mainstream successes, if only because of the love and wisdom with which they were crafted. Rohmer’s own words, preserved in these interviews that span from 1970 to 2009, reveal a critical, reflective sensibility that thoroughly complements the authorial one visualised in his films.

Interviews with Eric Rohmer

Are you the world’s biggest Blink-182 fan? Do you know everything there is to know about pop-punk’s greatest band? Or are you new to the scene and want to become an instant expert on the band everyone is talking about? Then this is the book for you. Contained within are 101 amazing facts covering everything from the band’s early days through the more difficult times (including the infamous plane crash) right up to their 2016 comeback – although WE all know they never really went away! Amaze yourself and your friends with these handily-packaged facts which are easily organised into relevant categories for maximum enjoyment.

101 Amazing Facts about Blink-182

Always Looking Up: The Ultimate Guide to Having a Positive Outlook in Life, Discover Useful Tips on How to Make Positive Changes to Live a Happier and More Fulfilling Life Always look at the bright side of things. Look at the glass as half-full instead of half-empty. We often hear platitudes like this. And while they are helpful, sometimes being positive is easier said than done. This is especially true for people who seem to be having setbacks one after the other and they can’t seem to catch a break. In situations like that, it’s easier to feel negative and think the world has it in for them than trying to find the positive side of that situation. Though it can be incredibly difficult, if you manage to stay positive in situations like this, you will reap the benefits of your efforts. Being positive will help you overcome adversities better. It also has a positive impact on your health as being positive help reduce stress and the risk of the most common causes of death like heart disease, stroke, cancer, and respiratory diseases. It has numerous benefits in your life. This audiobook will teach you how to always have a positive outlook on life. You will discover tips on how to look at the bright side of any situation. You will discover how you can have a positive mindset that will help you live your life to the fullest. If you want to learn more on how to adopt a more positive outlook in life, scroll up and click “add to cart” now!

Always Looking Up: The Ultimate Guide to Having a Positive Outlook in Life, Discover Useful Tips on How to Make Positive Changes to Live a Happier and More Fulfilling Life

This unique audiobook from historian and author Geoffrey Giuliano chronicles the life, times, trials, and triumphs of the remarkable scholar, activist, feminist, teacher, and reformer Angela Davis, using informed commentary, but most significantly, the words and wisdom of Ms. Davis herself. Forget the rhetoric, rumors, and urban legends surrounding this polarizing figure and listen directly to Ms. Davis. Prison reform, civil rights, racial equality - all these topics are presented by author and producer Giuliano. Icon Audio Arts is privileged to present the important, liberating teachings of the dame of American civil rights and a tireless lifetime champion of the poor and oppressed. This audiobook is a must for all university library collections and institutions. Edited by Macc Kay Production executive Avalon Giuliano ICON Intern Eden Giuliano Music By AudioNautix With Their Kind Permission ©2020 Eden Garret Giuliano (P) Eden Garret Giuliano Geoffrey Giuliano is the author of over thirty internationally bestselling biographies, including the London Sunday Times bestseller Blackbird: The Life and Times of Paul McCartney and Dark Horse: The Private Life of George Harrison. He can be heard on the Westwood One Radio Network and has written and produced over seven hundred original spoken-word albums and video documentaries on various aspects of popular culture. He is also a well known movie actor.

Angela Davis; Listen Humanity

Despite high-minded ideals, temptation always seems to loom around the corner, threatening to derail us into a desperate world of secret behavior and covered-up indiscretions. From families to marriages to businesses, on a scale as global as the credit default swap meltdown or as personal as our last session on the Internet, we are suckers for bad ideas. Why do we so often make poor decisions that can lead to life-shattering results? Why do we promise ourselves to do better only to slide back into our old habits? Why can’t we help ourselves? The time has come for each of us to become accountable. To experience the freedom, peace of mind, and overwhelming self-confidence that come from living a life free of secrets and lies. In every area of our lives, it’s time to go beyond self-help . . . it’s time to get accountable. It’s time to live Open..

Open

Written in response to the devastation of World War I, Why Men Fight lays out Bertrand Russell's ideas on war, pacifism, reason, and personal liberty. Russell argues that when individuals live passionately, they will have no desire for war or killing. Conversely, excessive restraint or propaganda causes us to live unnaturally and with hostility toward those who are unlike ourselves.

Why Men Fight: A Method of Abolishing the International Duel

Middlemarch, A Study of Provincial Life is a novel by English author George Eliot, first published in eight instalments (volumes) during 1871–2. The novel is set in the fictitious Midlands town of Middlemarch during 1829–32, and it comprises several distinct (though intersecting) stories and a large cast of characters. Significant themes include the status of women, the nature of marriage, idealism, self-interest, religion, hypocrisy, political reform, and education.Although containing comical elements, Middlemarch is a work of realism that refers to many historical events: the 1832 Reform Act, the beginnings of the railways, the death of King George IV, and the succession of his brother, the Duke of Clarence (the future King William IV). In addition, the work incorporates contemporary medical science and examines the deeply reactionary mindset found within a settled community facing the prospect of unwelcome change.

Middlemarch

Bestselling author Liz Harfull shares fascinating true stories of rural Australian women, showcasing the passion, tenacity and resilience required to make a life on the land. Making a living on the land in Australia can be tough at the best of times, but the last few years of seemingly endless droughts, floods and bushfires - not to mention a global pandemic - have made it even more difficult. A FARMING LIFE shares the uplifting stories of women from six rural families as their resilience is tested by personal loss, illness, fractured relationships, natural disasters and the challenges that come with working in a traditionally male-dominated world. These women are all hands-on farmers - in fact, most are responsible for managing their own farms - and their defiance, tenacity and genuine humility shines through, as does their hope for the next generation of young women already lining up to follow in their footsteps.

A Farming Life

Our Daily Bread charmingly weaves together the customs, rituals, anecdotes, legends and sayings that tell the story of bread, from Mesopotamia, through Egypt, to the Far East, ancient Greece, ancient Rome, and the New World. Matvejević shows how bread is depicted in literature and art (with beautiful illustrations) and examines especially closely the role of bread in the major world religions, drawing from the Bible, Talmud and Quran, but also at various apocryphal texts. In his seventh and last chapter, his narrative moves to the personal, explaining what motivated him to write this book; the lean years of his childhood during World War II and his father's detention in a German concentration camp. Warning about the pending threat of hunger in the "developed world," the book fittingly ends with a quote from the Russian anarchist Pyotr Kropotkin: "The question of bread must take precedence over all other questions."

Our Daily Bread

This glittering, “wild romp of a story, boldly and beautifully told” (Neal Thompson, author of The First Kennedys) explores the intertwined fates of literary icon Truman Capote and infamous socialite Ann Woodward—featured in the hit TV series Feud: Truman Capote vs. The Swans—sweeping us to the upper echelons of Manhattan’s high society, where falls from grace are all the more shocking. When Ann Woodward shot her husband, banking heir Billy Woodward, in the middle of the night in 1955, her life changed forever. Though she claimed she thought he was a prowler, few believed the woman who had risen from charismatic showgirl to popular socialite. Everyone had something to say about the scorching scandal afflicting one of the most rich and famous families of New York City, but no one was more obsessed with the tale than Truman Capote. Acclaimed for his bestselling nonfiction book In Cold Blood, Capote was looking for new material and followed the scandal from beginning to end. Like Ann, he too had ascended from nobody to toast of the town, but he always felt like an outsider, even among the exclusive coterie of high society women who adored him. He decided the story of Ann’s turbulent marriage would be the basis of his masterpiece—a novel about the dysfunction and sordid secrets revealed to him by his high society “swans”—never thinking that it would eventually lead to Ann’s suicide and his own scandalous downfall. “A 20th-century morality tale of enduring fascination” (Laura Thompson, author of The Heiresses), Deliberate Cruelty is a haunting cross between true crime and literary history that is perfect for fans of Furious Hours, Empty Mansions, and Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil.

Deliberate Cruelty

New York Times bestselling author of The Wordy Shipmates and contributor to NPR’s This American Life Sarah Vowell embarks on a road trip to sites of political violence, from Washington DC to Alaska, to better understand our nation’s ever-evolving political system and history. Sarah Vowell exposes the glorious conundrums of American history and culture with wit, probity, and an irreverent sense of humor. With Assassination Vacation, she takes us on a road trip like no other—a journey to the pit stops of American political murder and through the myriad ways they have been used for fun and profit, for political and cultural advantage. From Buffalo to Alaska, Washington to the Dry Tortugas, Vowell visits locations immortalized and influenced by the spilling of politically important blood, reporting as she goes with her trademark blend of wisecracking humor, remarkable honesty, and thought-provoking criticism. We learn about the jinx that was Robert Todd Lincoln (present at the assassinations of Presidents Lincoln, Garfield, and McKinley) and witness the politicking that went into the making of the Lincoln Memorial. The resulting narrative is much more than an entertaining and informative travelogue—it is the disturbing and fascinating story of how American death has been manipulated by popular culture, including literature, architecture, sculpture, and—the author’s favorite—historical tourism. Though the themes of loss and violence are explored and we make detours to see how the Republican Party became the Republican Party, there are all kinds of lighter diversions along the way into the lives of the three presidents and their assassins, including mummies, show tunes, mean-spirited totem poles, and a nineteenth-century biblical sex cult.

Assassination Vacation

Nel 1946, il grande maestro indiano Paramhansa Yogananda pubblicò la sua famosa Autobiografia di uno yogi. Da allora quel libro ha venduto oltre un milione di copie, è stato definito uno dei cento maggiori libri spirituali del secolo scorso ed è diventato la biografia spirituale più letta di tutti i tempi. La storia di Yogananda ha ispirato milioni di lettori a cercare Dio e la gioia divina in se stessi. Il nuovo Sentiero: la mia vita con Paramhansa Yogananda, scritto dal suo intimo discepolo Swami Kriyananda, è l’indispensabile seguito del-l’Autobiografia di uno yogi. È l’unico resoconto della vita di Yogananda che sia mai stato scritto da un discepolo che ha vissuto con il Maestro e a cui egli stesso ha affidato personalmente l’incarico di condividere con il pubblico le sue parole, il suo insegnamento e il suo messaggio. È probabile che il lettore dell’Autobiografia di uno yogi, dopo aver finito di leggere quel libro così ricco d’ispirazione, si sia chiesto come fosse vivere con l’autore. Yogananda, infatti, scrisse molto meno di se stesso che dei grandi santi che aveva incontrato; e sebbene il suo libro sia un’autobiografia, egli riuscì a dare l’impressione di essere stato soltanto un umi-le devoto che cercava la saggezza ai piedi di quei grandi santi. La verità, tuttavia, è che Yogananda era venuto al mondo già pienamente illuminato ed era più saggio della maggior parte dei santi dei quali scrisse. Negli ultimi anni della sua vita, egli confidò al suo discepolo Kriyananda: «Mi recavo da quei santi per ricevere la loro guida, ma loro continuavano a cercare risposte da me!». Evidentemente era quello il suo ruolo nella vita, simile, in questo senso, a quello di Arjuna, l’anima già illuminata che recitò la parte di un umile devoto che ricerca la verità dalle labbra del Signore Krishna nella Bhagavad Gita. Il lettore viene inoltre lasciato a chiedersi quale sia stata l’esperienza di Yogananda in America: qual era la sua missione in Occidente? come presentò l’antica scienza dello yoga al pubblico moderno? come istruì i suoi discepoli? E, infine, una domanda inevitabile per il lettore che è stato profondamente toccato dalla storia della sua vita: come sarà stato vivere insieme a lui? Nel Nuovo Sentiero, Swami Kriyananda affronta le numerose domande che affiorano spontaneamente in chiunque abbia letto l’Autobiografia di uno yogi. In effetti, Il nuovo Sentiero regala al lettore la sensazione di aver realmente vissuto con il Maestro, poiché racconta, dal punto di vista di ogni discepolo, com’era – e come sarebbe stato per il lettore – vivere insieme a lui. Questo libro condivide gli insegnamenti di Yogananda direttamente, con le sue stesse parole. Serve inoltre come manuale per ogni ricercatore della verità, poiché tratta i problemi comuni che tutti devono affrontare sul sentiero spirituale. Colmo di storie affascinanti, umorismo e rivelazioni intuitive, Il nuovo Sentiero trasmette insegnamenti elevati e verità profonde, esposti però in modo semplice e illustrati uno dopo l’altro...

Il nuovo Sentiero

The nation's best-loved vet looks back at the funniest, most absurd or heart-breaking animal encounters and situations he has been in over his long and highly successful career."My mentor and former boss Alf Wight said that the life of a vet is never dull and how true he was. It is funny looking back that he found fame through his James Herriot books, and now his former surgery and myself have been taken to the nation's heart once again through our show The Yorkshire Vet."It just shows what a nation of animal lovers we are and these past few years have been particularly challenging for all of us with the Coronavirus outbreak. But what it has shown me is the comfort and support our pets give us in times like these. All the same, it was this, along with recent changes to my working life that gave me an opportunity to reflect, so I want to look back at some of my favourite cases and share them with you."

The Tales and Tails of a Yorkshire Vet - All in a day's work for Peter Wright (Unabridged)

In his monumental biography, "Ludwig van Beethoven," Alexander Wheelock Thayer meticulously chronicles the life and work of one of classical music's most renowned composers. Spanning three comprehensive volumes, Thayer employs a rigorous scholarly approach, intertwining detailed historical context with an analytical examination of Beethoven's compositions, influence, and the societal changes of his time. The biography is characterized by Thayer's eloquent prose and incorporation of extensive primary sources, including letters, contemporaneous accounts, and musical critiques, which unfold the complexities of Beethoven's character and creative process. Alexander Wheelock Thayer, an American musicologist and one of the earliest biographers of Beethoven, was profoundly influenced by the Romantic ideals that surrounded him. His academic background and pioneering spirit culminated in a work that not only reflects thorough research but also a deep appreciation for Beethoven's music. Thayer's dedication to capturing the essence of Beethoven's life stemmed from his own passion for the arts and music, coupled with an ambition to provide a definitive account of the composer who shaped Western music. This biography is a must-read for anyone interested in the intersection of music and biography. Thayer's incisive analysis and rich narrative will appeal to musicologists, historians, and general readers alike, offering an unparalleled glimpse into the life of a genius whose powerful legacy continues to resonate through the ages.

Ludwig van Beethoven (Biography in 3 Volumes)

Who was Sylvia Plath? Uncover the Untold Story of an Iconic Poet in this Captivating Biography! Sylvia Plath. The name evokes fiery verses, whispered anxieties, and a tragic end that echoes like a gunshot across literary history. In her short, tumultuous life, this electrifying enigma wove words into weapons, love into poems, and despair into a legacy that still burns bright. Dive into the depths of Plath's world: - Witness her meteoric rise to literary fame, fueled by ambition and a fierce hunger for recognition. - Explore the shadows that haunted Plath, from her tumultuous relationship with her father to the crippling depression that threatened to engulf her. - Delve into her passionate, volatile marriage to fellow poet Ted Hughes, a love story that fueled both her art and her pain. - Uncover the controversies surrounding the aftermath of Sylvia's untimely death, including the debates over Ted Hughes' involvement in her inheritance and the burning of her work. And many more. This isn't just a biography, it's an exploration of the human condition. Go beyond the headlines and discover the woman behind the myth. Uncover the raw vulnerability, the searing intellect, and the unyielding spirit that gave birth to some of the most powerful poetry ever written. Click the Buy Now button to get your copy now and immerse yourself in the captivating, tragic, and ultimately unforgettable life of Sylvia Plath.

Sylvia Plath Biography

The first eyewitness account of the fraught evacuation of Kabul.As a Royal Marine Commando, H. Collins served in Afghanistan in 2001 on combat operations. He took part in the invasion of Iraq in 2003, and returned for a second tour the following year. In 2005, now a private security contractor, he spent five years in Ramadi and Fallujah, Iraq's so-called 'triangle of death'.In 2014, H was back in Afghanistan, providing security for the Japanese Embassy in Kabul. In 2021, when the chaotic evacuation of the Afghan capital began, it was a tough call for the Japanese government to leave behind their significant investment in Afghanistan's future. When H finally got the go-ahead to extract the embassy's diplomats and staff, he was leading the only security team remaining in a city rapidly filling with Taliban fighters.This is an eyewitness account of the final, fraught six days that H and his team spent in Kabul. Their first attempt to reach the airport ran into a firefight between Afghan government forces and the Taliban and had to be aborted to ensure the safety of their Japanese clients.H decided on a late-night extraction under cover of darkness, following which his small team of twelve men were forced to speed through Taliban-controlled checkpoints in order to get back to their HQ compound, where the remaining ops staff and seventy-two unarmed Ghurka waited.A live feed from a special forces drone revealed that they had been tailed back from the airport and Taliban fighters were now surrounding the compound. Special forces had also let them know that three of the Taliban who had demanded a meeting in the compound had been wearing suicide vests.Surrounded by the Taliban, for six days, H and his men manned their defensive positions day and night. H knew that no help would come and the Taliban's intentions were far from clear. If they could not make it through the increasingly chaotic city to the now completely surrounded airport, they would inevitably be overrun, and could expect the same fate as so many before them. Or they could try to punch their way out of the encircled capital and head to the border, or a Northern Alliance stronghold.H's ability to keep his team calm and focused would be key to their survival. If they made it, they would be the last team out of Kabul.

Last Team Out of Kabul - Surrounded by the Taliban (Unabridged)

In "The Extraordinary Life Story of Harriet Tubman," Sarah H. Bradford meticulously chronicles the remarkable journey of one of America'Äôs most pivotal abolitionists. This biographical narrative is not merely a recounting of Tubman's life; it delves into the tumultuous era of slavery and the burgeoning abolitionist movement, rendered through Bradford's evocative and accessible prose. The text is steeped in historical context, offering both vivid storytelling and poignant insights into Tubman's indomitable spirit, her daring escapes, and her relentless commitment to liberty and social justice. Sarah H. Bradford, a prominent 19th-century writer and social activist, was inspired by her own experiences in a nation grappling with the morality of slavery. A contemporary of Tubman, Bradford'Äôs close association with abolitionist circles and her extensive research into Tubman'Äôs life positioned her uniquely to bring forth this compelling account. Her personal dedication to social reform is reflected in her empathetic portrayal of Tubman, highlighting not just her achievements but the challenges she faced as a Black woman in a prejudiced society. This book is highly recommended for anyone interested in American history, social justice, or the life of extraordinary individuals. Bradford'Äôs work not only serves as a biography but as a source of inspiration, encouraging readers to reflect on the themes of courage, resilience, and the fight against injustice that remain relevant today.

The Extraordinary Life Story of Harriet Tubman

Orson Welles, born in 1915 in Kenosha, Wisconsin, emerged as a multifaceted force in the realms of radio and cinema. His early foray into the arts began in his teenage years, and by 1938, he achieved nationwide recognition for his radio adaptation of H.G. Wells' "The War of the Worlds." This broadcast, presented as a series of news bulletins about a Martian invasion, caused widespread panic and showcased Welles' ability to captivate audiences through innovative storytelling. Welles' transition to film was marked by the groundbreaking "Citizen Kane" in 1941. In this masterpiece, he played a pivotal role as co-writer, director, producer, and actor. Although it faced challenges initially, "Citizen Kane" has since garnered acclaim for its narrative innovation and technical achievements. This film not only solidified Welles' position in cinema but also left an indelible mark on the history of filmmaking. Despite early successes, Welles encountered difficulties in Hollywood, struggling to secure funding and facing interference with some of his projects. His subsequent films, such as "The Magnificent Ambersons" (1942), "Touch of Evil" (1958), and "Chimes at Midnight" (1965), showcased his creative prowess but also reflected the challenges he faced in the industry. Welles' contributions extended beyond filmmaking; he excelled as an actor, featuring prominently in films like "The Third Man" (1949) and "Compulsion" (1959). His performances, coupled with his distinctive voice, added layers to his artistic legacy. As he navigated the complexities of the film industry, Welles remained active, taking on diverse roles in projects like "The Trial" (1962) and "A Man for All Seasons" (1966). His resilience and willingness to challenge conventional norms continued to define his career.

The Cinema Of Orson Welles

Emily Elizabeth Dickinson (December 10, 1830 – May 15, 1886) was an American poet. Born in Amherst, Massachusetts, to a successful family with strong community ties, she lived a mostly introverted and reclusive life. After she studied at the Amherst Academy for seven years in her youth, she spent a short time at Mount Holyoke Female Seminary before returning to her family's house in Amherst. Thought of as an eccentric by the locals, she became known for her penchant for white clothing and her reluctance to greet guests or, later in life, even leave her room. Most of her friendships were therefore carried out by correspondence. In 2016, Terence Davies released A Quiet Passion, a biographical film about the life of Emily Dickinson. The film stars Cynthia Nixon as the reclusive poet. It co-stars Emma Bell as young Dickinson, Jennifer Ehle, Duncan Duff and Keith Carradine.

Emily Dickinson: Complete Poems

Naples ’44 is an unflinching autobiographical account of a year in Naples after the armistice and Allied landings in Sorrento in 1943. Working as a British counterintelligence officer under the Allied occupation, Lewis documents the rich pageant of life in the city and its surrounding areas. There is suffering and squalor: criminal gangs are on the rise, along with typhus and black market commerce, and the female population is forced into part-time prostitution, simply to obtain food. Corruption is rife as a Genovese crime family member makes his way into the US army administration, and local hospitals, short on supplies, buy equipment back from those who stole it. There is farce and humour too, witnessed in the Roman uncle paid handsomely simply to appear at funerals and lend an air of gravitas, and in Lewis’s own experience of vetting proposed marriages between British soldiers and local women. Unsparing, penetrating and profoundly humane, Naples ’44 is a moving portrait of the costs of war, and the resilience of a society under extreme stress.

Naples '44

Marking the 125th anniversary of Agatha Christie's birth, this new edition offers an informed introductin to the chief proponent of the English village murder mystery. Although she created two enormously popular characters - the Belgian detective Hercule Poirot, and the inquisitive elderly spinster and amateur sleuth Miss Jane Marple of St Mary Mead - it is not generally acknowledged that Agatha Christie wrote in many different genres: comic mysteries (Why Didn't They Ask Evans?), atmospheric whodunits (Murder On The Orient Express), espionage thrillers (N or M?), romances (under the pseudonym of Mary Westmacott), plays (The Mousetrap) and poetry. This guide examines all of Christie's novels and short stories and lists the various TV and film adaptations of her works.

Agatha Christie

Joanne Rowling was once a would-be published author like many others - committed and determined. Now J K Rowling is at the heart of a global media phenomenon, wealthier, and more influential and successful than she could possibly have imagined. The Harry Potter novels changed her life, and the landscape of writing, publishing and bookselling for children forever. This unauthorised biography follows the transformation of a lonely single mother into a powerful inspirational businesswoman. J K Rowling's story is one of talent, hard work, self-belief and the transforming power of the imagination. From a remarkable insider perspective Lindsey Fraser tells the amazing tale that began one day on a train, when Rowling had forgotten to pack a pen. . .

JK Rowling and Harry Potter Phenomenom

Winner of the Macallan Gold Dagger 2000 for non-fiction Edward Bunker's life is beyond the imaginings of most fiction writers. He was born in Hollywood, California, the son of a stagehand and Busby Berkeley chorus girl, whose early divorce propelled him into a series of boarding homes and military schools. From the age of five he repeatedly ran away, roaming the city streets at night. A proud character, combined with an IQ of 152, resulted in a series of altercations with the authorities. He became the youngest ever inmate of San Quentin at the age of seventeen, and there he learned survival skills and faced down the toughest prisoners in the system. He was befriended by Mrs Louise Wallis, a former star of the silent screen and wife of movie mogul, Hal Wallis, who produced films starring Bogart, Cagney, Edward G. Robinson and George Raft. She introduced Bunker to her circle of friends, including Jack Dempsey, Tennessee Williams, Aldous Huxley and William Randolph Hearst, whose guest he was at San Simeon. A parole violation resulted in a spell crossing America as a fugitive on the FBI's most wanted list. His eventual capture led to Folsom prison. Encouraged by the example of Dostoevsky, Cervantes and Caryl Chessman, and by the kindness of Mrs Wallis, he determined to write his way out of prison. Bunker's first published novel, No Beast So Fierce, viewed by many including Quentin Tarantino as the finest crime novel ever written, changed his fortunes. It was filmed as Straight Time, starring Dustin Hoffman. He published three other novels, The Animal Factory, Little Boy Blue and Dog Eat Dog, (all published by No Exit) in his lifetime, admired by writers as diverse as William Styron and James Ellroy, and another novel, Stark, was discovered in his papers after his death in 2005. Bunker appeared in a score of films, most notably his legendary role as Mr Blue in Reservoir Dogs. This blistering narrative is a memoir like no other.

Mr Blue

Exploding onto the world stage in 1991 with their multi-platinum first album, Ten, Pearl Jam courted controversy and conflict. They won credibility with their astounding second album, Vs., in 1993, which became the fastest-selling American album of all time. In Pearl Jam and Eddie Vedder: None Too Fragile, Martin Clarke brings to life the band's tumultuous history; from their beginnings amidst Seattle's grunge underground, through the excesses and pressures of superstardom, to their current incarnation as mature rock heavyweights.

Pearl Jam & Eddie Vedder

I followed them on a journey into nightmares, as what seemed to be a simple escape plan (simple? A lunatic escape plan of infinite complexity and unlikelihood, more like) transmuted and transformed' Neil Gaiman, from the foreword Captured during the First World War, Lieutenant E.H. Jones and Lieutenant C.W. Hill are prisoners of war at the Yozgad prison camp in Turkey. With no end to the war in sight and to save themselves from boredom, the prisoners hit upon the idea of making of a makeshift Ouija board to keep themselves entertained. But Jones, it turns out, has a natural skill for manipulating his fellow inmates, and Hill ably fulfils the role of magician's assistant and partner in crime. As their deception succeeds beyond their wildest imagination, other possibilities begin to emerge. What if this new-found hobby could be put to better use? Together Jones and Hill conjure up an almost unbelievable plot to dupe their captors into setting them free, featuring séances, ghost-guided treasure hunts and faked suicides. A runaway success when fi rst published, this true life-story is a remarkable tale of courage, ingenuity and resilience in the face of adversity. This brand new edition contains never-before-seen letters and photographs, an introduction from the descendants of E.H. Jones and a foreword by Neil Gaiman and is published alongside a free companion ebook containing even more fascinating material.

The Road to En-dor

Richard E. Grant’s life changed almost overnight when he was cast as the lead in Withnail & I in 1986. He kept a diary of the experience, the bestselling With Nails, and now it is published for the first time in audio, read by the author. Funny and revealing, told with trademark candour, join Richard E. Grant on the shoot of a lifetime. ‘In these dashing diaries of his recent years in the movies, Grant shares with candour his wonder at this aberrant universe and its inhabitants’ ― Sunday Times ‘An exceptionally vivid and penetrating insight into Hollywood film-making... What most of us want is gossip about starts, and this is something the book delivers in spades... Qualifies for that exclusive niche reserved for film star memoirs that are worth much more than a casual flick on the bookshop shelf’ ― Observer

With Nails

On 1 July 2010, Raoul Moat was released from Durham Prison. Within forty-eight hours he had shot his ex-partner Samantha Stobbart and brutally murdered her new boyfriend, Chris Brown. In the early hours of 4 July, Police Constable David Rathband was gunned down while sitting in his patrol car in East Denton, just outside Newcastle upon Tyne. PC Rathband was blinded for life and one of the biggest manhunts in police history began, culminating in Moat's death six days later in the small Northumberland town of Rothbury. Tango 190 is David's personal account of the attack, and of his painful attempts to rebuild his life in the wake of the terrible injuries he sustained. David Rathband died on 29 February 2012. This is his story.

Tango 190

Excitement builds as The Sheiling opens for its very last season. All's set for a great time with nothing to mar the horizon, despite Connie's retirement, Himself believing he's fully in charge, and Joan aching for the day she has nothing better to do than twiddle her thumbs in front of a blazing fire with a good book and contented cats. It doesn't turn out that way. BT sabotages the business. Connie is missed beyond measure and Himself has ideas well beyond his station while the cats do their utmost to destroy harmony by taking exception to certain guests. More laugh-out-loud tales from the pen of Joan Campbell, mixed with some sound advice about running, or staying in, a successful B&B. REVIEW: A great anecdotal collection of stories that peek behind the smiling facade of the woman running the best B&B in the North. LESLEY RIDDOCH on Heads on Pillows BACK COVER: Excitement builds as The Sheiling opens for its very last season... ... all's set for a great time with nothing to blot the horizon, despite Connie's retirement, Himself believing he's fully in charge, and Joan aching for the day she has nothing better to do than twiddle her thumbs in front of a blazing fire with a good book and contented cats. It doesn't turn out that way. BT sabotages the business. Connie is missed beyond measure and Himself has ideas well beyond his station while the cats do their utmost to destroy the harmony by taking exception to certain guests, and enforcing their belief that children, expecially the grandchildren, should not be allowed over The Sheiling doorstep. More laugh-out-loud tales from the pen of Joan Campbell mixed with some good advice for running, or staying at, a successful B& B.

Bye, Bye B&B

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